Structure Your Writing Well in English (110)

28 February 2025

Maura Hannon

Effective English writing goes beyond grammatical accuracy to incorporate quintessentially English structural conventions at the sentence, paragraph, and thesis levels. A strong structure eliminates unnecessary distractions, ensuring clarity and impact in any context.

This workshop will help participants:

• Understand the structural elements expected by an English-speaking audience.
• Apply these principles to create stronger and more precise text.
• Streamline the writing process for scientific articles, journal submissions, and reports.
• Use structure to navigate the complexity of academic and thesis writing.

Topics:

• Tips and techniques for effective sentence writing.
• The paragraph as the fundamental building block of writing.
• Chapter structures and the significance of conclusions.
• Crafting compelling introductions.
• Adapting structure to suit audience, purpose, and style.

The workshop focuses on helping students understand the structural expectations of English writing. These skills will equip participants to write with greater clarity and confidence in any environment requiring English communication. Applying these principles during the drafting process will improve efficiency and maintain focus on the content.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify core structural elements across various writing formats.
• Develop well-constructed paragraphs with clear focus.
• Create logically organised chapters and impactful conclusions.
• Write introductions that define a clear research space.
• Adapt writing structure to meet audience, purpose, and stylistic requirements.

Requirements:

Participants should have an English proficiency level of B1/B2 or higher.

Preparatory Work:

Participants are required to submit one to two A4 pages of their own academic writing via email no later than one week before the course. The writing sample should not have been edited by someone else, as it will serve as the basis for hands-on exercises during the workshop. An edited version of the same sample, along with individual feedback, will be returned during the session. All submitted work will be treated with strict confidentiality.

University of Neuchâtel

Date: Friday 28th February 2025

Time: 9:15 am to 5:15 pm

Location: University of Neuchâtel

Trainer:

Maura Hannon brings extensive experience in writing, with a current focus on creating thought leadership content across diverse fields, primarily within digital communication environments. She blends her expertise with practicality, meticulousness, and humor, fostering a supportive and highly motivating atmosphere for training doctoral candidates. As Co-CEO of the communication company Die Schwedin, Maura works throughout Switzerland and Europe.

Maura recently earned a certificate in Executive Leadership from the University of Oxford. She also holds an MBA from Curtin Business School and a BA (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Western Australia.

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the city of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class).

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